Painted Truth (Alix Thorssen Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

Lise McClendon (Author)

Book Description

"An extremely satisfying mystery whose intricate plot kept me guessing. It's a rare book that can keep me riveted to its pages and have me reaching for tissues at the end. This one did. I give it my highest recommendation." -- Mystery News

"An unusually complex art swindle that will leave you gasping with admiration for the killer's imagination and industry. McClendon knits detective work together with domestic betrayals in a satisfyingly intricate tangle." -- Kirkus Reviews

Set in Jackson Hole where the Old West merges with upscale art galleries and adrenaline adventures, this second mystery featuring Alix Thorssen (after The Bluejay Shaman) finds the art dealer on her home-ground but without the comforts of home. Her partnership and gallery with sexy Paolo Segundo are at a crossroads. When another gallery on the town square burns, revealing the body of a famous artist, Alix is drawn into the investigation as an appraiser of the lost paintings. Ray Tantro was a has-been at 30 but was on the verge of a comeback. The death is ruled a suicide but Alix has her doubts. Why are the police so quick to dismiss foul play? The investigation makes her confront her own contradictions as an art lover, turning everything she knows upside down. A second murder rocks the resort town. Alix must examine her ethics and indeed her way of life to find the truth, and justice. But not without a very high price.

Writing in a lyrical, often humorous style McClendon brings the surrounding Wyoming territories to life, and her insight into the art world is intriguing. Alix Thorssen is a charming, grouchy, quirky, and even harder on herself than she is on the people around her. The plot is a treat. — The Armchair Detective

Product Details

• File Size: 447 KB
• Print Length: 249 pages
• Publisher: Thalia Press (May 23, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003NUQPO4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,234 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of plot twists November 15, 2011

By MysteryLover35

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is my first Alix Thorssen mystery. Alix Thorssen is a very realistic and likeable character. I read so many mysteries, when I find one that truly surprises, I get excited. That was the case with this book...there were so many plot twists that I never saw coming and they all came together nicely to a very believable conclusion. My one complaint is that I wish something more would have happened with Carl...it was a little disappointing how that part of the story worked out. I agree with the other reviews of McClendon's work that she has the ability to describe things in a way that makes you feel like you're right there. Looking forward to reading the third mystery in this series, Nordic Nights.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book! April 17, 1999

By E. Arthur

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Lise has created a wonderful character in Alix. She runs an art gallery with her friend and former lover, Paolo. Alix's friend's art gallery is burned, and she is called upon to put a value on the art burned in the fire. The mystery begins when the police find a body in the destroyed gallery. The story twists and turns, and she had me totally baffled as to who and why. The writing is delicious, and I highly recommend this book (which I thought was even better than Bluejay Shaman).

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Painted Truth March 30, 2000

By Sherri Cornett

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I sent all three of Lise's Alix Thoresson books to the avid readers on my Christmas list. Everyone responded with positive comments - "let me know when her next book comes out", "they are like the early Hillerman books, which are among my favorites", "she's a very entertaining writer. I was so glad to have the next book right there to continue the adventures"... As the gift giver, I was pleased that the recipients enjoyed Lise's mysteries as well as I did. Lise has the skill to keep the mystery alive throughout the book, keep the reader intrigued with the relationships among the characters, and throw in interesting educational tidbits about the settings. I look forward to more of her stories.

More About the Author

The blank page. A canvas. A rough stone ready to be carved. What is there to say about the creative process that hasn't been said? Only that writing stories, for me, is a crazy personal mission to get these people out of my head. I get obsessed with them and they won't let me sleep. When I don't write I sometimes feel like I'm floating through life, barely touching the ground. When I'm writing, as weird as this sounds, I feel more present in the real world. For a fiction writer, the story is where it all makes sense.

More than anything I love characters. My newest novel, ALL YOUR PRETTY DREAMS, is full of quirky people who I find fascinating and even a bit charming. The way a person presents himself to the world, how the world reacts to that presentation, is only one aspect of who they are. The other aspect, the inner thoughts, dreams, and aspirations, is what story is made of. Without those dreams a character is flat and uninspiring. I try to delve into each person, even if it's only for a little bit.

I hope your reading journey takes you places you never imagined. I'm getting all tingly just thinking about it.

---

Lise McClendon writes fiction from her home in Montana. She is the author of nine novels, short stories, and articles. In 1997 she wrote and directed the short film, The Hoodoo Artist, featured at the Telluride Indiefest. She has served on the national boards of directors for Mystery Writers of America and International Association of Crime Writers/North America. She is on the faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference and co-presents the workshop for writers, Truly Richly Deeply: Structure and Depth in the Novel.

Lise also writes under the pseudonym Rory Tate. The first Rory Tate thriller is JUMP CUT.

"After thirty years writing fiction has become as necessary as breathing. Finding the essential story in the novel, chipping away the rock until the solid core is revealed, is an adventure and a joy."